Sequoyah, 28

Sequoyah, 28

Meet Sequoyah…

There have been many times in my life that the road forked and someone saved me before I went the wrong way. One person in particular was the director of the Robinson’s Scholars program.

Sequoyah, 28
Incarcerated: 3 years
Housed: Lexington, Kentucky

Do you ever wonder what your life might be like if you’d never crossed paths with certain people? I do. There have been many times in my life that the road forked and someone saved me before I went the wrong way. Some were just brush encounters, but there were others whose impact changed the entire course of my existence. One person in particular was the director of the Robinson’s Scholars program I was a part of. I met him when I was a sophomore in high school, during a time when I was lost within my trauma. I think he sensed that from our first conversation because every time we talked after that, he showed genuine interest and concern for me. Over time the fortress that I’d built around me for my protection gave way and a bond forged between us. I had never had an active father to nurture me and most of the men I’d been around were predators who made me feel very uncomfortable. He was different though. Kindness, safety, love, and support radiated off of him. He took me under his wings with the goal of seeing me fly on my own one day.

Despite his efforts, I stumbled many times before I began to find my footing. When everyone counted me out, he dug his cleats in and coached me through the storms. I was ready to give up on myself and probably would’ve without his unwavering encouragement. Very often, I found myself questioning why. Why did he care? Why did he try so hard? What was so special about me? I mean he was a stranger; he had no obligation to help me. My own family didn’t even do these things, so why was he? I could never understand what he saw in me that made him think I was worth investing in. But he did and never faltered in showing me how much he wanted me to succeed. When I graduated high school, he stood in those stands proudly like a father would for his daughter. His presence continued on when I went to college too. When I started making reckless decisions again, he swooped in and got me back in order. He was determined to keep me from self-destructing. After a while, he became the voice of reason and my most trusted confidant. Nearly seven years after we met, I walked across the graduate stage once more. The stadium was packed full. When it came time for me to receive my diploma, there he was standing with honor as my father.

Mohamud, 24

Mohamud, 24

Meet Mohamud…

I can’t change my past decision or where I came from, but I change where I am going.

Incarcerated: 3 years
Housed: Northpoint Training Center, Burgin, Kentucky

I am a single father to a beautiful boy who means the world to me. I love him unconditionally.

My relationship with my son is unbearable, I can’t even explain how much I love and miss him every single day and night. Family means a lot to me, my son, my sister and brother who have been by my side since day one and we talk every weekend. My siblings and I share a strong relationship and are very close. The most important things I miss about being outside is my son, working, going to school and taking care of my family like any father and real men do. To me, all women are beautiful regardless of their height, weight, color, race, religion etc. I respect and love them all. While behind this wall, one thing I’d like to change is how I lived. I lived a double life and I got caught up in street life. I am thankful that I am the only person in my family that graduated college. I became a licensed medical technologist. Education is the key to success and with knowledge the sky’s the limit. I will keep educating myself and taking college courses. I try to be as happy as I can, smile, be positive and take it day by day. I hope to be able to go back to my family and never ever leave them again. I can’t change my past decision or where I came from but I change where I am going. God willing, I will make myself a better human, father and son.

Joshua, 30

Joshua, 30

Joshua B 4 Joshua-Bumphus-e1642642653166

Meet Joshua..

The last person in the world I thought would be there for me has been there since day one, and that’s my mom. My mom got clean and she’s been holding me down when everyone else faded away.

Incarcerated: 5 years
Housed: Northpoint Training Center, KY

People see Kentucky on TV and think that we are just a bunch of uneducated country bumpkins, but my struggle is real. Growing up, my mom was in and out of my life due to jail, prison and drugs. I’m a victim of a flawed system designed to fail.

I’ve been bounced around between different households and I was abused mentally and physically by my Dad. When I was 16, I just wanted to be loved and to feel like I belonged. The only thing that was consistent in my life was the clock-radio in my room where I was confined by my Dad. Being in prison is better than living with that man. In my room all I would do is practice rapping. I knew at nine that music was all I wanted in my life. I

‘ve taken this time in prison to perfect my craft in every way. Prison actually sat me down and helped me focused. I’ve created over 200 verses and I write every day. I taught myself how to play the guitar. I realize that I didn’t have as many friends as I thought I had. People in here think that I’m lame and weird because I don’t indulge in foolishness. The prison system in Kentucky doesn’t care if you get out. Everyone is recidivistic and it seems as though the Kentucky correctional department wants it that way. They make up reasons, write you up and if you go up for parole with clear conduct they deny your freedom by saying you’re “manipulating the system.” It’s designed to keep you locked up.

All I do is write, create music and stay to myself. The last person in the world I thought would be there for me has been there since day one, and that’s my mom. My mom got clean and she’s been holding me down when everyone else faded away. When I get out in five years I wan to stun the world.

I want to be that example, the voice and the hope for that little boy or girl growing up in Western Kentucky the way I did through music. I have a daughter I haven’t seen in over five years and I just got custody of my son. I’ve been in the streets all my life, surviving. I came from nothing and I wanna invoke change. If I ever make it with my music I wanna give back and help people. Music saved my life. My story needs to be told. I feel forgotten. I feel like there’s no hope for me unless I chase my dreams, the music.

 

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